Essay The public lives of private diaries July 15, 2025 In 1959 I kept a diary. An image of a pensive, green-uniformed Girl Scout with pencil poised at the corner of her mouth dominated the puffy plastic cover of the small book. Instinctively I knew that the lock and key were more an invitation than a deterrent, that because my diary was private, people would want to read it. Read More
Video Hilary Holladay on The Power of Adrienne Rich July 09, 2025 A major American writer, thinker, and activist, Adrienne Rich (1929鈥�2012) transformed herself from a traditional, Radcliffe-educated lyric poet and married mother of three sons into a path-breaking lesbian-feminist author of forceful, uncompromising prose as well as poetry. Read More
Essay Ridicule through time July 07, 2025 Satire has the power to embarrass, humiliate, appal, excruciate, and amuse its many different audiences, but what has its history been? Read More
Essay The worseness test June 09, 2025 I marvel at the simplicity of you can never say it鈥檚 the worst as long as you can say it鈥檚 the worst聽as a piece of humor. Hard to imagine that it could be humor, given that it shows up in one of the unfunniest moments in King Lear, but Shakespeare is good for it. Read More
Reading List Read with Pride June 01, 2025 Celebrate Pride throughout the year with this diverse collection of books exploring LGBTQ+ issues and perspectives. Read More
Podcast Rare Tongues May 29, 2025 Languages and cultures are becoming increasingly homogenous, with the resulting loss of a rich linguistic tapestry reflecting unique perspectives and ways of life. Read More
Podcast Looking for a Story May 19, 2025 Looking for a Story is a complete reader鈥檚 guide to McPhee鈥檚 vast published work, documenting much rarely seen or connected with McPhee, including remarkable early writing for Time magazine published without his name. Read More
Essay The world of John McPhee May 14, 2025 When I set out to find the whole world of John McPhee, to document and explore his extraordinary career as a writer, I had no sense of the fascinating marathon of research ahead. Read More
Reading List Books for finding balance May 01, 2025 Research shows conclusively that overwork can be harmful to employees and humans at large, and yet it can be hard to find public examples of choices that support true balance, or guidance that puts health ahead of hustle. Read More
Essay Personal advice columns, then and now April 30, 2025 Mary Beth Norton's research into "The Athenian Mercury" reveals what has changed鈥攁nd stayed the same鈥攐ver the long history of advice columns. Read More
Essay Fire sermons: Seneca and Thoreau on climate trauma April 21, 2025 鈥淐limate trauma鈥� is a phrase that has now entered the global lexicon. As global temperatures rise and population densifies in settled areas, the effects of catastrophic weather events like floods, hurricanes, and fires, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, are proving ever more destructive to human lives and livelihoods. Read More
On the freedom to read, speak, and exchange ideas April 14, 2025 The free and open exchange of ideas underlies intellectual inquiry and is the bedrock of a democratic society. Through engaged dialogue we refine our thinking, test our assumptions, and move closer to shared human truths. Read More
Reading List New in Poetry April 01, 2025 鈥淧oets,鈥� a term taken from the ancient Greek, 鈥渢o make鈥濃�� have contributed significantly to linguistic, artistic, and even practical aspects of language. Poetry is unique among literary forms, it enhances empathy, self-expression, and is in many ways the perfect medium for complicated thought. Read More
Interview Reading voices February 11, 2025 Even when it is performed for oneself, reading unfolds on an inner stage populated by different voices. Read More
Reading List Exploring Black Experiences February 01, 2025 First proposed by Black educators and the Black United Students at Kent State University in 1969,聽Black History Month, celebrated annually in February in the US, is an opportunity to celebrate Black voices, achievements, and to聽reflect on the central role of African Americans throughout US history. 91桃色 is proud to publish books that engage with serious issues and ideas relating to Black experiences. Read More
